Paroled rapist forced to shift

A man who has spent more than 10 years in jail for sexual violation of young girls was yesterday removed from a Clive address organised by probation services because it appears the landlord was told nothing of his background.

Moana Patrick Rimene, in his late 60s, was this week released on bail after pleading not guilty to breaching an extended supervision order.

Remanded to appear again on October 10, he was to stay at the nominated address and ordered not to have contact with girls aged 16 years or under.

Hawke's Bay Today was last night unable to contact the landlord, and police confirmed only that they had been called to an address in School Rd where the man had been living for about three weeks.

Residents, concerned about "weird" behaviour and only just becoming aware of the man's background, said they understood the landlord told police she wanted the man out and probation officers had to find Rimene another place to live.

His whereabouts last night were unclear.

Rimene was convicted in 1977 of raping a girl aged no older than 10, and 15 years later was sentenced to 11 years and nine months in jail for sexual violation and indecent assaults involving six girls.

He completed a sex offenders' programme in prison and was released in 2001.

In 2005, under new legislation enabling monitoring of known sex offenders who had completed their sentences, Rimene was placed under an extended supervision order of eight years and six months.

Appearing in Hastings District Court in November 2008 he was sentenced to six months' jail for breaching the order, which expires in September 2013.

Challenging the extended order in the High Court in 2005, Rimene acknowledged he remained a risk if near children, but relied on his monitors.

One Clive resident said the street where the man had been living was used daily by children to get to and from school.

She said members of the community had been told recently a paedophile had been placed in the area, but were not told who he was or where he was living.